11thHerald Posted December 31, 2024 Posted December 31, 2024 Is it set in stone that Harmony will become Discord or are there other forms the combination of Ruin and Preservation could take? It seems to me like there are ways to reconcile the two depending on how the holder conceives of the respective Intents. For example, I think Sacrifice could be a viable balance because it's destroying to preserve.
Treamayne Posted December 31, 2024 Posted December 31, 2024 1 hour ago, 11thHerald said: Is it set in stone that Harmony will become Discord or are there other forms the combination of Ruin and Preservation could take? It seems to me like there are ways to reconcile the two depending on how the holder conceives of the respective Intents. For example, I think Sacrifice could be a viable balance because it's destroying to preserve. It is not set in stone, it's the common theory, based on this pair of WoBs: Spoiler Quote chasmfriend's friend (Paraphrased) My friend asked for Brandon to write something about Harmony in her Alloy of Law. Brandon Sanderson There's another name Harmony could go by if he weren't able to control the conflict between his halves… *to Zas* Have you guys figured that one out yet? Oh, I'm not going to say anything. You have it on recording… I was pretty sneaky with that one so I don't know if you have it or not. Footnote: Followed up on here. Holiday signing (Dec. 12, 2015) Quote Questioner Last time you said that his name, if it wasn’t Harmony, it would be something else. Is it Discord? Brandon Sanderson This is relevant. Questioner It is relevant? Brandon Sanderson Yes. Footnote: The questioner is referring to this exchange. Bands of Mourning release party (Jan. 25, 2016) We won't know for certain until it is in a book. 2
Ninth of the Night Posted December 31, 2024 Posted December 31, 2024 There's also the excerpt from the Terris Prophecies in HoA. Spoiler He shall defend their ways, yet shall violate them. He will be their savior, yet they shall call him heretic. His name shall be Discord, yet they shall love him for it. Seems to paint a clear picture, that Sazed will switch to Discord in order to better serve his people. Of course it could also be a red herring. 5
Letryx13 Posted December 31, 2024 Posted December 31, 2024 2 hours ago, 11thHerald said: Is it set in stone that Harmony will become Discord or are there other forms the combination of Ruin and Preservation could take? It seems to me like there are ways to reconcile the two depending on how the holder conceives of the respective Intents. For example, I think Sacrifice could be a viable balance because it's destroying to preserve. It's not set in stone, but it's a likely possibility. I thought that Odium would be dealt with in book 5 and that Discord would be the next big bad. I'm less worried about that now, but it's still a possibility. 48 minutes ago, Ninth of the Night said: There's also the excerpt from the Terris Prophecies in HoA. Reveal hidden contents He shall defend their ways, yet shall violate them. He will be their savior, yet they shall call him heretic. His name shall be Discord, yet they shall love him for it. Seems to paint a clear picture, that Sazed will switch to Discord in order to better serve his people. Of course it could also be a red herring. That prophecy is the strongest evidence that Sazed will become Discord. The problem with it is that the prophecies all seemed to revolve around Sazed's ascension to Harmony, and I think Sanderson confirmed that the prophecy of the Hero of Ages was already resolved. 2
JPGU Posted December 31, 2024 Posted December 31, 2024 I think Sazed will become Discord in Era 3 and that will be a positive thing. I think Sazed will gain control over Discord's powers and intentions so that he can act. He is the Hero Of Ages, not the Hero Of One Age. Also, along with this I think we will see a conversation between Sazed/Discord and Taravangian/Retribution that will set up a conflict that will continue in the 2nd arc of Stormlight. On the other hand, I really want to see the Ruin shard being used for something beyond just destruction, a confrontation between Ruin and Odium is something I've always wanted to see. 6
Nitpicking Posted January 1, 2025 Posted January 1, 2025 Drift, I guess, but maybe Sazed will start spawning spren. If it's good enough for all three Rosharan Shards, and also for Virtuosity .... If he spawns a bunch of Ruinspren, could he reduce his excess Ruin enough to be less distracted by the need to control Ruin? 4
Letryx13 Posted January 2, 2025 Posted January 2, 2025 Wild idea. Maybe Sazed become Discord, but that ends up causing the shards of Honor and Odium to fight against themselves, destroying Taravangian in the process.
feruchemicalrockband Posted January 2, 2025 Posted January 2, 2025 I've always viewed Harmony/Discord as the resulting intent of combining two Shards that were polar opposites. It's not that Ruin and Preservation specifically combine into Harmony/Discord, but that Ruin and Preservation are so completely opposite that they have to become either Harmony or Discord. This would be true of any other Shard combo with completely opposing intents, like Odium and Devotion, maybe. Also, a sacrifice doesn't necessarily lead to protection. Sacrifice reminds me more of the Aztecs, and how ritual sacrifice was used to produce a number of results.
Treamayne Posted January 2, 2025 Posted January 2, 2025 2 hours ago, feruchemicalrockband said: I've always viewed Harmony/Discord as the resulting intent of combining two Shards that were polar opposites. It's not that Ruin and Preservation specifically combine into Harmony/Discord, but that Ruin and Preservation are so completely opposite that they have to become either Harmony or Discord. Sazed chose the name Harmony because of his Intent when he took up the Shards, and because it felt right. Spoiler HoA Ch 82: Quote The Hero will have the power to save the world. But he will also have the power to destroy it. We never understood. He wouldn’t simply bear the power of Preservation. He needed the power of Ruin as well. The powers were opposites. As he drew them in, they threatened to annihilate each other. And yet, because he was of one mind on how to use them, he could keep them separate. They could touch without destroying each other, if he willed it. For these two powers had been used to create all things. If they fought, they destroyed. If they were used together, they created. Quote Argent When Sazed picked up the Shards of Preservation and Ruin, did he actively choose to be known as Harmony (instead of, for example, Balance, or Equilibrium, or Stability), or is there some Cosmeric law that says Preservation + Ruin = Harmony? Brandon Sanderson He chose the name, but in part because it FELT right to him. /r/books AMA 2015 (June 17, 2015) It's interesting to note that his Intent was also "I am holding two separate shards, working together" not "I will hold one combined Shard of Harmony." 1
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